Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 986

Chapter 986

After receiving criticism from his friend despite giving encouragement, Yi-Han thought inwardly.

'The White Tiger Tower guys must have given her quite a headache.'

Well, it wasn't that he couldn't understand Moradi's feelings.

Statistically, White Tiger Tower caused the most incidents among the four towers.

Blue Dragon Tower students, being from noble families, were somewhat mindful of appearances even when causing trouble (though they still ate fallen food despite that), while Black Tortoise Tower preferred to resolve matters secretly and quietly, so they rarely got caught.

However, White Tiger Tower students were needlessly proud in strange ways.

Just looking at Anglago showed this.

Wasn't he now proudly in the punishment room after proudly escaping to watch a ballgame?

Blue Dragon Tower students would never do such things.

'Come to think of it, Blue Dragon Tower is definitely better.'

Yi-Han nodded with a slightly proud feeling. Seeing this, Jijel looked at him suspiciously.

'This feels strangely unpleasant... What is it?'

"Moradi. Don't get too angry just because Anglago went to the punishment room. Salko went too."

"...So that's what you were thinking. That's not why I'm angry."

"It's not? Then... Ah. I get it. It's about the exam. Don't worry, Blue Dragon Tower guys try to avoid it just as much."

It wasn't particularly comforting.

And even when playing around the same amount, White Tiger Tower students played much more boldly than Blue Dragon Tower students. One absolutely shouldn't fall for such words.

'You realized aura first but your encouragement is annoying, you bastard...'

But saying this would only damage her own dignity.

Jijel just gave up and changed the subject.

"...How's your exam preparation going?"

"I should start properly once this week ends."

As he spoke, Yi-Han slightly watched the mad doppelganger's reaction.

The mad doppelganger preferred Yi-Han to tackle high-level magic he might die learning, rather than being obsessed with Einroguard exams.

Specifically, he considered it a waste of time on garbage.

"...Is that alright?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, about exam preparation. The possibility that it won't meet your standards..."

"It doesn't matter. I shall teach you."

"?"

Yi-Han doubted his ears.

Not only allowing him to focus on Einroguard exam preparation but offering to teach him?

From the start, Yi-Han hadn't even thought of asking the mad doppelganger. That would have been too nonsensical a request.

To think he would volunteer to help with a request that hadn't even been made, let alone granted.

"You'll help with exam preparation??"

"Are you perhaps not listening carefully to royalty's words?"

"N-no. It's not that, I'm just too honored..."

When Yi-Han hesitated, Jijel asked curiously.

"Isn't that good for you?"

Though that doppelganger was a mad great mage, no one could deny his magical skill.

Having such a great mage directly help with exams would be far more efficient than any other help.

Of course, it could be dangerous.

How much had other students worried when that mad doppelganger kidnapped Wardanaz at the start of the semester?

But...

'With Wardanaz's personality, he probably won't care much about the danger.'

The Wardanaz that Jijel knew was always a crazy magic addict who pursued high risk, high return.

Such a person wouldn't hesitate just because a mad doppelganger was dangerous. Moreover, their relationship seemed quite amicable now.

'This feels strangely unpleasant. She's not badmouthing me, is she?'

Yi-Han suspected inwardly.

He felt strangely uncomfortable with Jijel staring at him.

"It's... good, but it's surprising when someone who wasn't like this suddenly acts this way. Imagine if the principal suddenly became gentle."

"...That gives me chills."

"Right? There's not much difference."

But there wasn't much either Yi-Han or Jijel could do just because it gave them chills.

From the start, the mad doppelganger wasn't the type to listen even if Yi-Han refused.

"Ah. Then it must be hard to help other friends."

Yi-Han belatedly realized.

If the mad doppelganger helped with exam preparation from the side, teaching friends would be difficult...

"It doesn't matter. Bring them along. Royalty shall bestow teachings."

"!?!"

This time even Jijel was shocked at words that broke expectations even further.

"Wh-what? Why is he acting like this?"

"I... I don't know either. Even him telling you all to follow earlier was unexpected."

Even if his friend asked, Yi-Han had no particular answer to give.

Yi-Han had no idea either!

'This won't do. I have to ask.'

Though Jijel had warned against provoking him earlier, he couldn't just let it go out of curiosity.

Yi-Han checked his defensive magic and asked.

"Master. But why did you tell the other friends to come along?"

"One cannot deny the need for companions for an incomplete mage. If they are your companions, they can be polished to serve as supports."

"...!"

"!!!"

Both Yi-Han and Jijel beside him were surprised by the unexpectedly sensible and thoughtful reason.

To think he would acknowledge Yi-Han's friends as companions and say he would bestow mercy to nurture them.

Caten sent a look of respect.

'As expected of the principal's doppelganger, he can't hide his love and care for students!'

However, the two cold students weren't fooled.

'Strange. Could this be madness manifesting in a different direction? Did the hamster do something? Should I go interrogate it?'

'I knew Wardanaz was good at attracting mad great mages like a carnivorous plant from before, but to think it would be to this extent. He's truly crazy.'

...To be precise, only one cold student wasn't fooled.

Yi-Han tilted his head but accepted it for now.

If the mad doppelganger could show such consideration, even if it was madness, it could be madness in a good direction.

Though he wondered if there was such a thing as positive madness, anyway...

"Then was that also why you told those White Tiger Tower friends behind to follow? Because they're my companions?"

The mad doppelganger stopped walking.

Then he turned sharply and looked over the White Tiger Tower students.

"They were companions?"

"Huh? Yes... They're friends from the same year as me."

"I thought they were servants, but they weren't."

"..."

"..."

The White Tiger Tower students' faces rotted. Yi-Han quickly made excuses while watching his friends' reactions.

"What nonsense are you saying! No, how could they be servants?"

"They were acting like servants so I thought they were servants."

"..."

This time the White Tiger Tower students' faces reddened.

They had certainly been in a shabby state from mining work.

"W-we usually move with more dignity...!"

"That was just this once, Wardanaz! Put in a good word!"

'What good word, you bastards.'

Though Yi-Han was inwardly dumbfounded, they were still his friends.

"They just like using their bodies, but they're all outstanding mages. No, Master, you called them mages earlier too."

"One can be both a mage and a servant. A servant must be able to do miscellaneous tasks as well as guard duty. What are you saying, disciple?"

'Ancient times are annoying.'

It seemed even servants had to be all-around capable in ancient times.

Not only learning magic but even stepping up as guards when needed.

"Anyway, they're not."

"I understand. I had summoned them as guards for my disciple, but it was royalty's mistake. You may return."

"?"

The White Tiger Tower students paused.

Then they looked back.

They had already walked quite far from the safe area marked on the map.

If they had to return to the realm gate alone from here...

"Well. Better to go back than needlessly get scolded by Master."

Yi-Han tried to send his friends back.

No matter how he thought about it, going together would just result in the mad doppelganger thoroughly irritating his friends.

Even so, with White Tiger Tower's pride, there was no reason to go along as potential guard servants...

"We'll protect Wardanaz!"

"Just leave it to us!"

"..."

Yi-Han lost his words and stared at his friends' quick response.

Jijel, seemingly embarrassed, turned away completely and ignored them.

  *

"Do you know about Frost Giants, Juniors?"

Upon reaching the Frost Giant area marked on the map, Caten moved with Yi-Han and Jijel.

It was to contact and negotiate with the Frost Giants.

The mad doppelganger didn't follow.

Normally, great mages didn't accompany for such preliminary negotiations. Trivial things were always the disciple's job.

"I've heard they have prosperous civilization and wisdom unlike giants."

"That's right. While giants fell in the past, these races from other realms avoided such downfall."

The Frost Giants were able to avoid the fate of downfall that the continent's giants experienced in ancient times by borrowing the distance of other realms.

Thanks to this, threatening and powerful beings like the King of Frost Giant were occasionally summoned to Einroguard and had confrontations with Yi-Han.

'Ugh. Why didn't Frost Giants settle on the continent...'

Yi-Han lamented anew recalling the nonsensical past.

Directly facing the King of Frost Giant wasn't something easy to experience even for an Einroguard student.

And this confrontation didn't just end there.

Afterward, whenever meeting Frost Giants, he had to hear things like 'Oh? You're the challenger who faced the king? Then I'll defeat you and steal that glory!'

From Yi-Han's perspective, it was truly an absurd ill fate.

'But there's a way.'

Yi-Han checked again the King of Frost Giant's blue stone embedded in his staff, disguised by magic.

If he just hid this, there was no way for Frost Giants to recognize Yi-Han's identity.

He would look just like a common human mage.

"They are a strong and proud race. We'll probably need to earn their acknowledgment before negotiating."

"How can we earn it?"

"There's a high chance we'll need to pass a test, Junior. They respect the strong."

Yi-Han and Jijel nodded with hardened faces.

Caten waved his hand as if to say not to worry.

"I'll take the test, so Juniors don't need to worry. If they try to make Juniors take the test too, I'll persuade them."

"...?"

Jijel tilted her head.

Did Caten, not Wardanaz, have a magical tongue that could persuade Frost Giants?

"Is there such a method?"

"I apologize, Juniors. I misspoke. If they try to make Juniors take the test too, I'll cut them down."

Caten corrected his words sheepishly.

Trying to act cool in front of his juniors, he had accidentally lied. Caten wasn't confident he could persuade Frost Giants.

"..."

"..."

Of course, saying he would cut them down left an even stronger impression on the juniors. Yi-Han and Jijel straightened their postures.

"Senior. If there was anything unsatisfactory about my magic explanation, please just tell me comfortably."

"And please definitely tell us if the tower juniors act rudely."

"???"

Caten was puzzled when his juniors suddenly said such things.

Why suddenly?

"This should be far enough... Noble giants of frost, hear me! Caten of the Jahan family has come to speak with you!"

-!

The Frost Giants quickly responded to the voice of tremendous volume that shook the cliff.

Thud!

A Frost Giant patroller jumped up from under the glacier. The Frost Giant looked around at the three and asked.

-One warrior and two mages. Seeing you announced yourselves first, you're not intruders.-

"Three mages. And we've come to negotiate with you."-

-Negotiate? We don't easily negotiate with outsiders normally. Even more so with beings from other realms.-

"From how you say that, it seems there is a way."

At Caten's words, the Frost Giant grinned.

From the strength emanating from his posture, this warrior seemed to know something.

-Yes. There's something we're looking for.-

"Your relic?"

-Ha! As if we'd entrust such things to weak mages from another realm.-

The Frost Giant sneered as if it was nonsense.

They had to find their relics themselves, not receive help from weak other races.

"Then what are you looking for?"

-We're looking for the challenger acknowledged by our king! Surprisingly, they say it's a mage from your realm. If you can find that one's location, we'll acknowledge you as guests.-

"..."

Yi-Han's face turned slightly pale.